‘Big Loser’ Says Snake Oil Firms Defamed Her

MINNEAPOLIS (CN) – A former “plus-size model” who appeared on “The Biggest Loser” says weight-loss companies defamed her by using her photos to push their products, which she never used and which may be dangerous. Jennifer Eisenbarth was booted off the first episode of season 3 of the show and went on to lose more than 100 pounds on her own, she says in her federal complaint.

Eisenbarth sued FWM Laboratories, Bromacleanse, Central Coast Nutraceuticals, Tricleanse and Tricleanse owner Dennis Hefter, of Boulder, Colo. She says the defendants pushed their snake oil by using fictitious names and personal details alongside “before” and “after” photos of her on their Web sites. The companies push supplements that for weight loss and “colon cleansing;” many contain acai berries and are not approved as drugs, Eisenbarth says. The offensive products are sold under names that include Acai X3, TriCleanse, Elite Acai Blast, Acai Alive, AcaiPure, Acai Berry Detox and Bromacleanse. But Eisenbarth says she never used them; she lost weight from “her dedication to her own dieting and exercise program.” That the products are not approved as drugs further damages her reputation, as does the fact that the companies have been accused of bad business practices, including charging customers’ credit cards without their knowledge or consent and falsely promising free trials of their products, Eisenbarth says. She seeks an injunction, damages for defamation and deceptive trade, and an apology. She is represented by Christopher Sorenson with Merchant & Gould.